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+--- Thread: How to get xbox One to Format External Hard Drive for games (/thread-83185.html)
How to get xbox One to Format External Hard Drive for games - xSicKx - 08-27-2017
Steps to solve external hard drive issues for use with games and apps:
1) Format the drive to NTFS to get the Xbox One to recognize it as a media device.
Plug the drive into your PC
Press the Windows Key + E to bring up Windows Explorer
Find the drive in the sidebar on the left, right click on it and select "Format..."
Format the drive. NTFS is the only important thing; default settings should be fine.
This may take awhile. Disconnect the drive when the format completes
2) Format the drive to work with Xbox One games and apps.
Turn on your Xbox One, press the Menu button on your controller and navigate to the Settings page
Navigate to System, then Manage Storage
Plug in the external hard drive, it should appear to the right of Internal storage. If it does not, verify it fulfills the listed requirements on the Storage page
Highlight the drive, select it with the A button (or voice or gesture), and then select Format [drive for Xbox One games and apps]
Almost instantly it should be formatted and you're good to go!
"I was having this exact same problem with my 1 tb wd passport ultra i went into Setting>Power and Startup, and turn off the "when xbox is off, turn off storage" and it fixed the problem as soon as i unplugged and plugged back in my external hard drive. I hope this helps"
"Go to Settings>Manage Storage. The device should be listed next to your internal hard drive, showing like a music note icon. If you hit the "Start/3Line" button all you'll get is a 'help' and 'switch profile' option. HIT THE "A" button instead, and I had an option plain and simple to "Format for Games & Apps". Only took about 3 seconds to finish."
Hopefully that helps you guys that cant get your hard drive to work with your xbox. If you plug it in it may be in PC mode and only looking for Videos and other media.
The Xbox will not format a drive simply because it's plugged in. You have an either or option with External Hard Drives; use as Media storage drive or as a Games and apps drive. Drives that don't meet required specs will only be used as Media drives. The system will also support up to two drives connected simultaneously. Currently this is the only option, however Microsoft is looking into allowing partitioning where a drive could be used for Media as well as Games and apps.
Multi-drive Raid towers can also be used with the One.